Tin Can Craft (and a giveaway!)

This is one of my favorite crafts from when I was a kid. It’s easy and quick, and can be tweaked for just about any holiday.

Tin Can Craft
Tin cans
Small piece of wood (like kindling, approximately 2-3″ x 8 or 9″)
Hammer
Nail
Sharpie
Wood glue
Votives or tea lights

Fill cans with water and let freeze overnight. This creates a firm backing inside the can for you to hit your nail against so the can doesn’t dent.

Using the sharpie, form the design you want on your cans out of dots (sort of like connect-the-dot, but there will be no actual connecting of the dots in this case.)

Hold the nail against the can and hammer the tip gently through each of the dots.

Set the tin cans out and let the ice melt completely.

Trim the wood piece down so that the tin cans will fit on it without much overhang, and generously squirt wood glue onto the wood piece.

Set the tin cans onto the wood piece, let dry and you’re good to go. Set small candles in the cans and light for a glowing centerpiece. I’ve seen people paint the cans, but I prefer the rustic bare look. Reminds me of childhood.

Zippo Giveaway

Zippo sent over this cool flex-neck lighter for me to use on my Halloween creations (this thing is a lifesaver trying to light candles in awkwardly-carved little pumpkins). We gave up candles in favor of long lighters years ago after one too many scorched fingers, but this one’s even better because you can bend it to reach into tricky spots, like some of the more complicated candle displays I’ve seen.

We’re a big fan of Zippo’s reliable performance – in fact, all of our groomsmen got Zippo lighters as gifts at the wedding. None of them smoke…we just think everyone needs a handy lighter on occasion. The best part about this one is that its starter is child-resistant, so your kids won’t go burning down the house with it. It’s also wind-resistant, so if Nate happens to feel like running around with it held up like a torch in the wind (I wouldn’t be surprised), it won’t disappoint.

Want it? Win it!
One lucky reader will win a Zippo Flex Neck Utility Lighter. Just enter on the easy form below. Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Zippo. All opinions are my own.